Dimapur, Feb. 9 (EMN): At least two Naga civil organisations, and one political party, on Saturday assured support to the state-wide bandh called on Feb. 11 to protest the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Naga Council Dimapur expressed solidarity to the “anti-CAB state-wide bandh called by NGBF and Naga civil societies and further urged all to stand united against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (2016).”
“The NCD fears that CAB once voted into law, Northeast including Nagaland will become the dumping ground for illegal immigrants. The CAB is unprecedented, and the government of India is trying to confer citizenship to foreigners on the basis of religious pretext.
“Northeast has always been plaguing with illegal immigrant issues and the passing of the Bill will be an added burden to the already limited resources of the region. The NCD therefore, appeal to the state government and the lone Rajya Sabha member to oppose the Bill in to do and to vote against it. Further, it urged all the tribe hoho/union president in Dimapur to take responsibility to implement the bandh peacefully in their respective colonies on 11th February 2019 from 6 am to 4 pm,” read the statement.
A separate statement from the Nagaland Law Students' Federation stated that the Bill has “many dimensions of nefarious hidden agenda.” the federation assured to “wholeheartedly oppose” the Bill and challenge its implementation even if the Bill is passed by the Parliament.
Also, the opposition Naga People’s Front (NPF) issued a statement extending support to the bandh. The party has directed all the divisional presidents as well as the party leaders to cooperate and actively participate with the bandh in their respective places.
It also criticised the statement made by the BJP General Secretary, Ram Madhav that the NDA government will place Bill in Rajya Sabha for approval in the ongoing session. The party stated that its Rajya Sabha MP, KG Kenye will vote against the Bill if placed in the house.
Exemptions
A statement from the committee enforcing the bandh on informed exemptions have been made for personnel from police, district administrations; medical and emergency services, army and paramilitary forces; students and teachers on examination (sic), pre-engaged programmes like weddings, autorickshaws or transportations ferrying students on examination, train and flight passengers, members of the NSCN (IM) attending the National Hoho; and media personnel.
